Work harder, get a better car, bigger house blah blah blah
Discussion
Dr Jekyll said:
You said literally raped. Presumably you had to rely on emotive language because there was no other way to make your case.
Some rainforests have reduced, others are fine. We aren't going to run out of fish, air and water quality in major cities is not yet pollutant free but cleaner than for centuries. At least in the parts of the world that have experienced the kind of economic growth you so strenuously object to. Presumably you would prefer some preindustrial idyll where the drinking water is full of parasites.
Tiny plastic fragments are barley noticeable on most coastlines.
A century, in geological time, is nothing. There have been more species become extinct over the last 200 years than at any other point in history. An area the size of Mongolia was lost from the worlds forests in one year. Blue whale populations have failed to recover since 90% of them were killed for oil and meat in less than 100 years. The 'Great Pacific garbage patch' is - at the smallest estimate - the size of Texas. Some rainforests have reduced, others are fine. We aren't going to run out of fish, air and water quality in major cities is not yet pollutant free but cleaner than for centuries. At least in the parts of the world that have experienced the kind of economic growth you so strenuously object to. Presumably you would prefer some preindustrial idyll where the drinking water is full of parasites.
Tiny plastic fragments are barley noticeable on most coastlines.
Whichever way you look at it, humans have/are f
king up the planet. Im no hippy/green party member, but just looking at the evidence.
Nickbrapp said:
8 hours work 8 hours play 8 hours sleep.
Jobs are just a job. If you aren't careful life will pass you buy while you work all the hours trying to afford things to impress people and make yourself happy.
No matter how much money you have, how successful you Are when we die we all go in the same sized box.
7.5 hours work. 1 hour mandatory lunch break. 2 hours commute per day average. That's 10.5 hours, then the 0.5 hour getting ready to go to work. Leaves 13 hours, take away approx 8 for bed, leaves 3 hours 'me time'. I don't choose to work any extra as there isn't enough time in the day to do fun stuff as it is. Couldn't find a closer job that pays enough for a modest mortgage. Seems that work is still the biggest part of my life even though I'd like to work less, I'm trapped, and I suspect everyone else is similar. The 'play' time is far from 8 hours!!!! Cutting down on sleep is madness. However I do like the job.... And I do agree with you about the same sized box. Just is feels like being on a tread mill.Jobs are just a job. If you aren't careful life will pass you buy while you work all the hours trying to afford things to impress people and make yourself happy.
No matter how much money you have, how successful you Are when we die we all go in the same sized box.
TorqueDirty said:
Malthus had a lot of interesting stuff to say on this if I recall correctly - Malthusian principle of population control.
Mathus' entire argument was that 1) unchecked population would increase exponentially, 2) agricultural production could only increase geometrically, 3) therefore food shortages could only get more severe and we are all doomed.Wrong, wrong and wrong.
Du1point8 said:
You worked hard and had a break.
Being able to keep house 1 in the UK and build house 2 in Philippines for not a lot of money (well a bit I have seen the thread) and own it outright.
You therefore are lucky that you can use one to fund the pension, that will do that in a country were costs are lower than the uk.
No, I worked quite normally and just didn't buy new cars every few years, which seems to be where many people fall down in life. In fact I've never bought a new car or bike, and our current car is an 8 year old Everest. I could never see the logic in spending a years salary on a quickly depreciating fashion accessory/status symbol, which is what most family cars are.Being able to keep house 1 in the UK and build house 2 in Philippines for not a lot of money (well a bit I have seen the thread) and own it outright.
You therefore are lucky that you can use one to fund the pension, that will do that in a country were costs are lower than the uk.
When we moved we rented our England house out, so it paid for itself, and after renting cheap and saving for a year we built the new one using every last cent I had saved over 20 years offshore, plus what I was earning at the time. No extra serious hard work involved, just some determination and will power. We don't do expensive foreign holidays, new cars, designer labels or any of the other oh-so-important consumer crap.
A neighbour in the UK once told me "you owe yourself a new car mate" when I told him our ten year old Rover was perfectly adequate. A bit strange, for a guy to spend two years factory wages on a tool to get him to work and back, that cost a third of what we had paid for our house.........
Colonial said:
I can't think of anything worse than working ever longer hours simply to buy your family more stuff to make up for you not being around.
Exactly. Do you think that kids would prefer a smaller/cheaper toy and you spending time with them, or the latest gadgets but rarely see you?!?! Memories are made of quality time with parents/kids.
Jasandjules said:
Exactly.
Do you think that kids would prefer a smaller/cheaper toy and you spending time with them, or the latest gadgets but rarely see you?!?! Memories are made of quality time with parents/kids.
I spend 6 months a year offshore, and I don't really lavish my wife or daughter with stuff to replace myself. I do make sure my daughter gets lots of 'daddy time' when I'm home though. And the wife gets to see me all day, every day, and every night, which probably wears thin after a few weeks..... Do you think that kids would prefer a smaller/cheaper toy and you spending time with them, or the latest gadgets but rarely see you?!?! Memories are made of quality time with parents/kids.
ILoveMondeo said:
For me working harder/longer means greater rewards financially, not just now but longer term too. So greater security. So yes it's definitely worth it, I'm looking at "retiring" to a much easier role in a few years, with less hours and stress and could even think about a nice early retirement too.
I've had a stable middle management job for 12 years. Decided to get a second job last year at living wage which takes me to about 65-70 hours per week. I have no family or dependants so why not. It covers weeknights or the odd weekend day, at which point I'd probably only be on xbox or here! 
People at the new second job have been so impressed with me in the last 7 months that I've just been promoted with a 30% pay rise.
My plan is to pay the mortgage off quicker and have a better quality of life or slow down my workload as I approach 40.
Edited by NelsonM3 on Saturday 31st January 17:04
NelsonM3 said:
My plan is to pay the mortgage off quicker and have a better quality of life or slow down my workload as I approach 40.
Something I do, bung a few hundred a month into the UK mortgage direct debit, so it quietly pays itself off in the background without us even thinking about. Probably a better 'earner' than money in any savings account, but I'll leave that to the financial gurus to decide. 
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